I confess to owning as many Metabo power tools as I can afford. I have always found the brand one of those “reach for first” tools whether it’s a random orbit sander or a pocket-sized drill driver. When Metabo brings out a new tool it is worth looking at because you can almost bet that it is not just a simple cosmetic update, but a real step forward in product development. The new 18v Metabo SB 18 LTX is definitely a big step forward – it has so many new technical features that it stands on its own. 
The first thing I noticed when I took the combi out of its compact custom case was its relatively small size – particularly the motor and gear casing part of the drill. The drill feels like a very solid piece of kit, well built with a professional feel. Technical innovations around the gearbox in particular have resulted in a 30% weight reduction versus its predecessor. Tests have shown the SB 18 LTX to be the second lightest in its class (2.1kg). I really like the Metabo finish – a slightly crackled finish on the Metabo-green casing, with a subtly detailed rubber grip section round the handle and trigger, and rubber “bumpers” in key places.
The gear casing is a solid aluminium casting, the front collar is precision machined to take a standard sized (43 mm) side handle and a host of other accessories. The rest of the gear casing matches the slightly crackled finish of the casing. Everything is solidly screwed together and does not flex even under quite severe torque load.
The 18v Li-ion battery casing is quite large and slides backwards onto the base of the handle. It provides a flat base on which to stand the drill.
The Li-ion battery is filled with the latest battery technology including the very important air-cooled charging system for increased service life. This ensures optimum charging and no harm to overheated batteries. The technology will also monitor the battery and motor so, in the event of either being pushed too hard the system will cut in.
On the base of the drill, near the battery housing is a bright white light focused on the chuck area for maximum visibility and usefulness. Next to it is a red button that starts the “Impuls” feature found in many cordless Metabo drills. This pulses the motor and is amazing at providing the extra boost power to disengage sunk-in screws for example. You know when its on because the button pulses red! 
We are all familiar with cordless drill switchgear since it tends to follow a similar pattern in most makes. But Metabo has decided to have a slightly different take on this on the LTX. First of all, the speed selector switch, normally a slider on the top of the casing, has been moved to the side – in fact both sides, to suit left and right handed users. These switches, which could have been disastrous, work extremely well because they are bright red and big enough to move easily under finger pressure. 
Screwdriving torque adjustment is normally situated on the collar on the front of the housing, but has been replaced on this drill by a small alloy slider switch on the top of the motor housing. This has seven settings and is more than enough for most jobs. But more of torque later.
Hammer/drilling modes are selected with a small black slider switch just behind the collar, and again this switch works positively and easily.  Forward/reverse switching follows the usual pattern of a push-through switch above the trigger. 
Used conventionally, I soon fell very much in like with this combi. It just works. And works and works. I tried hammer drilling in face brick, screwdriving 75mm long screws into softwood and drilling 30mm diameter holes in all manner of woods. It just has amazing power and torque and seems hungry to get on. The quality metal- jacketed chuck works very well, and is easy to lock and unlock. No grip was lost when hammer drilling either.
It seems that what makes all this power and torque possible is the new four pole motor and the PowerExtreme Li-ion batteries. I guess it must have been all that 100Nm of torque available that prompted the redesign of the torque safety clutch system because the result might have been some very sore building site wrists. 
But the innovation doesn’t end here. By itself this drill would be eminently desirable, but in classic German fashion, the Metabo design people have “systematised” it. This means that the newly designed 43mm collar becomes the method by which a few interesting attachments can be added to the drill. I was sent the right-angle drive attachment to try out, but there are also a PowerShear attachment that converts the drill into a sheet material cutter, and a dust extraction attachment that ensures efficient collection of dangerous dust. 
The right angle attachment is a great idea. With the torque and capacity of the LTX, it becomes a perfect way of drilling holes for pipes and wires in the gaps between joists for example.
In order to fit it, the chuck has to be removed (a two spanner job) and the attachment fitted over the collar where it is pinch-fitted by tightening a bolt. The attachment is solid cast alloy with well-made gearing so it is my no means a toy. Even with the attachment in place the LTX had the same appetite for hard work as before. The right angle attachment would no doubt ensure its popularity with a number of building trades and if I needed one I would definitely buy one.  
Another little feature revealed when the chuck was removed was the 6mm hex hole in the spindle. This allows 6mm hex standard drill bits and attachments to be simply slotted into the spindle. By removing the length of the chuck the drill is made about 30mm shorter – compact enough to allow work in tight spaces. 
I don’t think many in the tool trade realised how much the introduction of Li-ion batteries would change the cordless tools we have now quite so much. With the power and versatility of cordless tools, most trades can effectively discard corded tools except for the extreme jobs.  The Metabo LTX series shows just how far cordless can be developed – and despite a “professional” price tag I am sure it will get many devotees.  I have to say that I have few more jobs I want do with it –my workshop shelves for example – before Metabo gets it back.